Francis, Matilda, Clover, Winter, Helena and Lia were part of our large battery cage hen rescue in the spring. Annually, all one-year old leghorn egg laying hens enter a molt where they lose their feathers which affects egg production. Battery caged hens which account for the majority of eggs produced in factory farming, generally lose 8% of egg production in the molt phase, a change from 100% to 92%. All hens, however, at this point are systemically culled with the oxymoron phrase “humane depopulation.” In this process, entire barns of hens are gassed, killing the hens in the cages where they have been cruelly trapped for their entire life, denied every natural hen behavior. In 2020, in addition to being culled due to the annual molt, hens were also being culled due to a decrease in demand for liquid eggs from restaurant closures related to COVID-19. We were able to save thousands of these hens for re-homing. Hens who had never seeing sunlight, felt the grass between their toes, consumed a variety of foods, freely moved, made their own nest, or even dustbathed were suddenly experiencing their first taste of freedom. It brought tears to the eyes of visitors who witnessed their arrival and transformation from frightened hens to curious, sun loving explorers, who even were amazed to see their shadows for the first time in the sunlight.
Francis, Matilda, Clover, Winter, Helena and Lia have been with us since this rescue and have thrived at the Little Red Barn. As hens, they have made friends with all the other animals, and can always be seen lying with either the cows, pigs or horses. They come running for visitors and love all the attention. Their favorite foods include lettuce, bananas, watermelon, noodles and tomatoes. Each one is an individual and loved for her own beautiful, unique personality.